Officials: Utah eligible for more jobless benefits

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Federal officials say Utah residents are now eligible for extended unemployment benefits as the state's jobless rate plateaus.

The announcement Monday means people who have exhausted their 14 weeks of unemployment benefits can now receive up to 14 additional weeks of assistance.

About 2,400 people have exhausted the first level of benefits and may be eligible for the extension.

The U.S. Department of Labor notified Utah officials that the state hit a trigger point after registering a 6 percent average unemployment rate over the past three months.

Utah had been booted from the extended benefits program in June after its three-month average jobless rate dipped below 6 percent.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)